Central batting in top form

Press, 28 November 1977, Page 6

Central batting in top form

PA Duneqm lan Rutherfotd and Jock Edwards, the big guns of the Central Districts batting order, were in fine firing order on the first day of the national Rothmans under 23 cricket tournament at Logan Park yesterday. Rutherford showed an impenetrable defence and a wide range of flowing, attacking strokes as he laid the foundation for Central’s 349 for five wickets declared. His 120 was scored in 218 minutes and included 15 fours. Such was his command over Northern’s limited bowling attack that a century appeared almost a formality after he had played himself in with his usual methodical care. Edwards came to the crease with Central 166 for two and pulverised the bowling for the next 94 minutes on his way to an unbeaten 121. His innings included 10 fours and eight sixes. There was a look of relief on the faces of the perspiring Northern fieldsmen when the declaration finally came. Northern struggled in reply, losing six wickets for 80 runs in the period until stumps. Otago ended the day splendidly placed against Canterbury after Mark Bracewell and Geoff Osborne, with help near the end from tile off-spinner. John Bracewell, combined to dismiss Canterbury for a meagre 88. Earlier. Otago had made a good recovery to make 198 after losing its first four wickets cheaply. Alan Pierce led the recovery with 54 and there were useful contributions from most of the other batsmen. Otago’s effort was aided- by crisp, clean fielding, with Colin Jackson taking a particularly good catch in the slips from

i Geoff Osborne's bowling to send I back Justin Boyle. j Mark Bracewell claimed the j wickets of three of the most .dangerous Canterbury batsmen in a long, unchanged spell of 114 overs, while Osborne com- ; pletely dried up the run-rate ■with his accurate medium-pace (and his ability to move the ball. Les Watson was Canterbury's most penetrative bowler in the Otago innings. He claimed the valuable wickets of the Otago captain, Stuart McCallum, John Bracewell, and Garth Dawson in the first 75 minutes. Pierce and lan Brooker set about a revival with a fifthwicket stand of 57 and the good work was continued by Jackson. John Lindsay, Osborne. Peter Hills, and Mark Bracewell. Lindsay smote his 12 runs from two hits big fixes from the leg-spin bowling of Boyle Pierce batted 90 minutes for his invaluable half-century, which included seven fours. The Auckland v. Wellington match was the most dramatic of all, with Wellington ending the day in a sound position 88 runs on with eight wickets intact. Wellington seemed doomed in the morning, when it lost its first seven wickets for 32, but a partnership of 100 in 96 minutes from the captain. Clive Currie (54). and Richard White (44) restored its fortunes. Wellington’s score of 133 seemed modest, however, when the Auckland openers, Peter Webb and Phil Haydon, put on 62 for the first wicket. A remarkable period of play followed, in which Auckland lost all its 10 wickets for just 20 runs. Seven of the Auckland batsmen failed to score and this mav constitute some kind of record for the tournament.